Hydrocarbon-vapor generator



Juine l2, 1923.

w. RUFF HYDROCARBON VAPOR GENERATOR Filed July 25 1919 Arm/mfr Patented. June l2, lggla i narran ist lsez rivnreocaneorrvaron Application. July 25, 1919. Serial No. 313,337.

4To (LU 107mm it may manera:

Be it known that l, lVILLTAM liner, a citizen ot the `United States, residingr at the borough of lvlanhattan, in the city, county,

5 and State of New York, have invented cer tain new and useiul improvements in Hydrocarbon-Vapor Generators, ot which the following is a specification, reference being; had therein to the accompanying drawings, which form a part thereof.

My invention relates to hvdroiiarbon vapor generators, and more particularly to a type thereoic wherein thehydrolcarbon is delivered underl pressure to a vaporizer' tube,

and the heat ttor vaporizinfr the fluid `is derived from the Haine of the gases produced by the generator. i

A Igenerator made in yaccorde-nce with my invention is particularly adapted foruse in connection with illuminating` lamps, and is designed primarily to permit the use in such lamps of kerosene cil, without likelihood ot the formation oicarbon within the vaporizer tube, or the stoppage ofthe discharge opening' of said tube by small particles of carbon.

ln vaporizing kerosene'without the production of carbon within the vaporizer tube,

l have Found it essential to provide for the rapid transmission ot heat to the oil within the tube so as to secure the desired uniform higrh temperature; to use a tube which vention relates are provided with a starting pan surrounding the vaporizer tube. and 4 delivered to said tube has in itslength a control valve so that the oil may be excluded from the tube until it has attained the proper vaporizing temperature.

In a generator made in accordance with my invention, I have found `such a valve not only to be unnecessary, but in ya measure to be dangerous owing to likelihood of `the usually the pipe througrb which the oil it,

bursting; ot the tube with the 4development or excessive pressures therein upon the cutting oft' oi the supply oi hydrocarbon when shutting` down the generator.,

l have also ioundit desirable to so arrange the inlet of the mixing tube that air will be drawn thereinto by the vapor vjet from a source of air somewhat remote from the flame, the air. inlet tube, however, being subjected to heat so as to preheat the air entering into the inflammable mixture.

The elimination of the control valve in the oil supply pipe, necessitates lthe control oit kthe vllame through the regulation of the injessure in the supply tank pressure being developed after the initial heating of' the vaporizer and the flame beingr extinguished by the relief oi this pressure, so as to permit the pressure wit-hin the vaporizer tube to be relieved through the supply tank, and thus avoid likelihood oi the development of excessive pressures within said tube with a resultant likelihood of the bursting; of the tube. i

The invention consists in the novel Jfeatures of construction and combination of parts hereinafter set forth and described, and more particularly pointed. out yin the claims hereto appended. n f

y Referring' to the drawings7 l is a view partly in ,elevation andy v partly in section of a generator embodying my invention., applied toan illuminating; lamp; f

Fig. 2 is the vaporizer tube, partly in section.; and.

^ Fig. 3 is a detail view. insection yof the filling valve and pressure controlling valvey the pedestal is a fitting e supporting; a start,

ingpan c which .is ot J[he usual construcv tion, embodying a metal cup filled rwith asbestos orother non-inflammable and ab sorbent material, adapted to receive a charge Carried by the pan cis a va-r which. will be more fully describedhereinfk oit alcohol. porizer tube Z the detailed construction of a detail view o'l" a portion of after. The lower end of the vaporizer tube Z is in communication with the supply tank a through the pipe e which terminates adjacent the bottom ot said tank, and connects with a suitable passageway formed in the fitting c, the other end ot ywhich passageway is in communication with the vaporizer tube 0l.

In this manner, when the contents of the tank a, are placed under air pressure, the kerosene or other hydrocarbon in the tank will be forced upwardly through the tube c into the vaporizer tube ci.

Supported 'from the pedestal by the bracket is ahead fitting g havinggas supply conduits g and g2, eachof which is adapted to supply the inflammable mixture to mantles as g3 arranged upon opposite sides of, and adjacent the vaporizer tube d. This itting includes therein the mixing tube 7L which communicates with atmosphere through the air supply pipe it by means of which` the entire head fitting is supported from the bracket f.' This air supply pipe 72, opens downwardly through the tting jf so as to draw its air from a point below and remote trom the mantles g3, (two of which are ordinarily used) but extends adjacent these mantles so that the air passing therethrough will be heated before being mixed with the vapor discharged from the tube d.

The end of thel tube CZ projects into the y mixing tube 7L for the required distance Vand has a fairly close fit with the opening in said tube through which it passes, this opening being relied upon merely to permit the insertion o' said vaporizer tube within said mixing tube, and not serving in any way as a. source' of air supply lor the mixture;

Carried by the tank a is a yremovable plug c' which has the three-fold function of permitting the filling of the tank a, of permit- `ting the development of the required air pressure within said tank,\and of controlling the flame through the regulation of this pressure. ordinary ball check valve y' which serves to hold pressure in the tank as it is being developed and thus permit the convenient use oi a pump, which itself has no check valve therein. Communicating with the casing of the check valve y' is an opening i, the lower part of which is conical as shown, to form a valve seat i?, and the upper part of which is screw-threaded to receive the screw plug 7n, the lower end 7c of which is conical to conform to the conical valve seats?l The check valve casing has a reduced opening 4 extendy The plug z' is provided with anv a in a manner to relieve the pressure upon 'the contained oil when it is desired to extinguish the flame.

Extending into the plug f: isv a channel k2 having an outlet 7c3 opening voutwardly of said plug` at some point of the conical part Z4 thereo't. An ordinary pressure gauge is connected with the opening t" and carried by the plug` z'.

l have yfound in actual practice, in order to satisfactorily vaporize kerosene oil, that the vaporizer tube CZ' must have veryl thin walls in order to conduct heat to the keroeene within same, with sutlicient rapidity to properly and rapidly vaporize it. l have also found that it is essential to make this tube or a material which will not readily carbonize, or which has little or no affinity for carbon.

The most satisfactory metal I have found -tor this tube is aluminum, but l have also found that aluminum of su'tliciently thin gauge, does not possess enough strength to resist the bursting strains developed within the tube. To meet this condition provide a composite mixing tube, the outer shell d ot which is formed of a. metal possessing great tensile strength, and one upon which soot will not accumulate, such as nichel steel. This outer shell, l linewith an aluminum shell (Z2, which, as above stated, has little or no affinity tor carbon. Both shells are closed at one end as (Z3. To prevent the accumulation ot carbon at the discharge orifice, T insert a plug (Z4 in the end (Z3 oi both shells lCZ and (Z2, vhich plug is ot aluminum and has extending` therethrough a hole ot uniiorm diameter throughout. which may be as small as tive one-thousandth ot an. inch, although when greater volume oi gas is required, thisdimension 'may be increased. ln vthis manner the oil and oil vapor passing through the vaporizer tube fZ contarte solely with: aluminum and the composite wall may be made suiiiciently thin to ensure the desired rapid conductivity' o1" heat tothe oil and vapor within the tube.

The operation oit the herein described generator is ailistautiallv as lollows:-

ing the n ,eiator, the'pluryI if removed and a ouantny oit kerosene During is actuated to unseat lthe and the plug 'L' into't-he tank a, the check valve j holdingthis pressure during intake stroke ot the pump. f

The gauge will indicate rthe pressure developed within the tank o. f .v

the pressure kwith the tank a is raiseth oil will be fed therefrom through the 'ube c to the vaporizer tube ,the contact ot thisl oil ivith the heated Wallsot said vaporizer tube reducing the oil to a vapor and developinga counterpressure in'said tube which will substantially equal the pressure in the tank a.

llVith the development of this vapor in the tube d., it will escape theret'rom through the nozzle opening, in jet term and floiv through the supply pipes g and g2 tothe mantles g3 .vhere it will be ignited by the tlame trom the starting pan c.

is the vapor is discharged'into the-mixing tube la it Will draw in'an adequate supply ot air to secure the proper mixture.

By using a minute discharge openingin the tube @Z it is possible tosecure a choke etteet resulting in the development ot high -vapor pressure Within the tube, thus ensuring at all times a substantial volume of rapor adjacent said nozzle and Within the dirert range ot the heat radiated from the mantles (/3. In this mannery the'vapor Will be superheated. f

With the continued burning ot the lamp, the air which is drawn through the supply pipe 71, will be heated by the radiant heat t'rom the man'tles g3, thus ensuring` a more intimate mixture of the vapor and air and securing a more stable inflammable mixture.

When the desired pressure has been developed in the tank (lf.l the plug` ,7c is tight-v ened. thus seating the conical end thereof ou the valve seat i2 and avoiding a loss ot pressure through leakage at this point,jit having been found that theeheck valve does not t'orm a. sutiiciently tight -joint to hold the pressure. As the plug 7o is tightened, the pin m thereof willr pase through the reduced opening 4 and yopen-the check valve j which. with the seating of the conieal end ot the plug le. no longer has any function. y

lVhen the conditions above referred to are established.l the lamp will continue to burn with undiminished hrilliancy tor a number ot' hours before the pressure 'in the tank a Will be reduced to a point Where there will be any substantial variation in the quality or quantityT of the mixture.

It, however, the mantlesr g3 should lose some ot their brilliancy, the plug 7c may be unloosened, the check valve acting instantly to prevent the escape ot air When the pin m recedes beyond the seat tor the ball of said valve, and additional air may be pumped into the tank a to raise the pressure.

each

seated, whereupon the airk Within the tank e will escape. reducing the pressure-in the tank and rstoppingthe feed of oilto the tube d. iylil alreadyvin the tubes d and@l will return to the tank o and the vapor pressure in the` toriner will be relieved through said tankso as to avoid all likelihoodof the development of pressure sueient to burst said tube. y

lt will be'observed that a't'ter enterin the vap'orizer tube cl.; the kerosene an heated vapors will Contact only with the aluminum shell (Z2, and t-he aluminum plug L7/, upon ivhieh carbon will not accumulate; By this composite tube construction, I am enabled to not only prevent fouling of the interior ot the tube d and of the discharge opening thereof with carbon,r but secure sutleient strength in the tube to resistbursting stresses. y l

n l have found nickel steel to behighly satisi'i'actory for the outer shell, since no carbon deposit forms thereon, The absence of earybon from the interiorand eXteriorf'ot the tube ensures a continued, runiform application of heat throughout the portion ot the tube adjacent the lame,thus contributing towards uniformity in the density, satura-y tion and pressure et the vapors yWhile With-` in the tube. n y y lt is not my intention to limit` the invention to the detailedaise ot the invention herein described, it being apparent that the vapors generated may he used lttor heating as v'well as illuminating purposes.

` .Having described the inventioinrihat l claim asneW and desire to have `protected by Letters Patent is fl. A hydrocarbon vapor generator embodying therein in combination, an oil'sup,

ply tank, a burner, a vaporizer tube having a thin Wall and a discharge opening there-f from composed ot an outer shell of a metal having high tensile strengthf'and an inner shell of aluminum, both of said shells having closed ends rand an aluminum plug mounted vin said closed end,'said plug having a minute discharge opening therethrough communicating with the interior of the tube, said tube being so positioned as to be subjectedy to the radiant heat from the burner, means whereby an air cushion may be developed in saidtank, and a pipe connection between said tank and said tube,

to said tube. y i

2. A `hydrocarbon vapor generator emwhereby oil under pressure Willfbe delivered I its lll() Il l) bodying therein in combination, an oil supply tank, a burner, a vaporizer tube having a thin wall and a discharge opening therefrom, composed of an outer shell of a metal having high tensile strength, and an inner shell oit aluminum,both of said shells having closed ends and an aluminum plug` mounted in said closed end, said plug having a minute discharge opening therethrough communicating with the interior of the tube, said tube being so positioned as to be subjected to the radiant heat from the burner, means whereby an air cushion may be ldeveloped in said tank, a pipe connection between said tank and said tube, whereoil under pressure will be delivered to said tube, said pipe connection having no valve in the length thereof, and means.

whereby the pressure in said tank may be relieved to extinguish the iame.

3. A hydrocarbon vapor generator embdying therein in combination, an oil supply tank, aburner, a vaporizer tube having a thin wall and a discharge opening therei' from, composed of an outer .shell ot a metal havinghigh tensile strength, and an inner shell of aluminum, both of said shells having closed ends and an aluminum plug mountedl in said closed end, said plug having a minute discharge opening therethrough communicating with the interior of th'etube, said tube being so positioned as to be subjected to the radiant heat i'rom the burner, means whereby an air cushion may be developed in said tank, a pipe connection between said tank and said tube, whereby oil under pressure will be delivered to said tube, said pipe connection having no valve in the length thereof, and means whereby the pressure in said tank may be relieved to extinguish the lame,y comprising a removable filling plug having a valve seat and a check valve therein, av valve plug having an air passage therethrough, and meanscarried by said Vvalve plug adapted to control said check valve whereby air maybe delivered to said` tank or the pressure therein may be relieved through said lvalve plug.

4. A hydrocarbon vapor generator embedying therein in combination, an oil supply tank, a burner, a vertically extending vaporizer tube `having a thin wall and a discharge opening therefrom, 'said tube being so'positioned as to be subjected to the radiant heat from the burner and being free from interior obstructions, a head fitting having a mixing tube into which said vaporizer tube discharges, a supply pipe leadingtherefrom to said burner, an air supply pipe supporting said head fitting, one end of which opens into said mixing tube, and the other end of which opens at ar point remote from said burner, said pipe being subjected to radiant energy from said burner, whereby the air entering the mixture is preheated, means whereby an air cushion for causing and controlling the low of liquid to said tube may be developed in said tank, and a pipe connection between said tank and said tube, whereby oil under pressure will be delivered to said tube, said pipe being of substantially uniform nonvariable capacity throughout the entire length thereof, whereby the feed of oil from said tank to said tube will be governed solely through the relative 'pressures in said tank and said tube. i

5. A hydrocarbon vapor generator embodying therein'in combination, an oil supply tank, a burner, a vaporizer tube having a minute discharge opening therethrough communicating with the interior thereof and being. so positioned as to be subjected to the radiant heat from the burner, means whereby an air cushion for causing and controlling the flow i liquid to said tube may be developed in said tank, a pipe connection between said tank and said tube, whereby oil under pressure will be delivered to said tube, said pipe connection having no valve in the length thereof, and means whereby the pressure in said tank may be relieved to extinguish the llame, comprising a removable illing plug having a valve seat and a check valve therein, a valve plug having an air passage therethrough, and means carried by said valve plug adapted to control said checky valve whereby air may be deliveredto said tank or the pressure therein may be relieved through said valve plug.

VIn witness whereof I have hereunto affixed my signature, in the presence of two subscribing witnesses, this 18th day of July, 1919.

1WILLIAM RUF F. Witness:

F. T. VVENTWORTH.

lill) 

